Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(106)

He moved past the room while Denver stuck his head in, using his phone to take several pictures of the maps.

The next office was utilitarian with a couple of desks and phones.

He stilled and tuned in to the area. Nothing. No heartbeats, breaths, sounds. Where were Zara and Greg? Increasing his speed, he hustled for the next office and pushed open a door. Feminine desk, high-end furniture, and the smell of fancy and too sweet perfume. The scent instantly took him back to his teenaged years. “This is her office.” He strode inside and looked around quickly. Papers, files, and maps were organized perfectly on the desk. “You catalog the place and grab what you can,” he said, moving past Denver back toward the hallway. “I’ll keep looking.”

Denver drew up short. “Shit.”

Ryker turned toward the computer on the desk, noting a flashing red light. Heat slammed into his abdomen, and he looked up at the ceiling to see two barely discernible boxes. “Motion sensors.” He hustled into the hallway and ran for the stairs. “Matt? We’re compromised,” he whispered into his comm device before heading back and kicking the doors open to the last two offices.

The shouts of men echoed through the building.

He met Denver in the hallway, and they ran up the stairs to join Matt just as three men rushed in the front door. Matt instantly engaged one in hand-to-hand, and his moves were a work of art. The guy he’d been fighting was unconscious on the floor before Ryker could even jump into the fray.

“Holy shit,” Denver muttered.

Ryker nodded and leaped forward to take the next guy down.

Matt looked over his shoulder at Denver. “You want this one?” He pointed to a tall soldier circling him.

“Nah. Go ahead.” Denver turned toward the back of the building as men shouted from that direction. “I’ll go this way.”

Heath and Jory rushed in from the area by the mud room, leaped over the fallen guy, and followed Denver toward the sound of running boots in back.

Ryker took a hard punch to the face, and he smiled as he grabbed his attacker around the neck and tossed his ass to the floor. Ryker followed him down, punching his face. Blood sprayed. He leaned in. “I don’t want to kill you, so tell me where the woman and kid are.”

The guy blinked.

Ryker punched him in the nose, and cartilage cracked. The man screamed in pain.

“Where. Are. They?” Ryker asked. “Last chance or I slice your throat and move on to your buddy.”

“One of the outbuildings. I don’t know which one. They’re spaced fifty yards beyond the trees to the west and east,” the guy gasped through blood pouring from his nose.

“Thanks.” Ryker punched him in the jaw, and the guy slumped into unconsciousness. Then Ryker stood and nudged the guy onto his side so he didn’t choke to death. No reason to kill.

He glanced at Matt, who stood and wiped blood off his lip. “Outbuildings?”

Matt leaned to the side to glance out a window. “Three enemy here, three in kitchen . . .and it looks like fifteen or so running up the hill.” He frowned.

“What?” Ryker asked, quickly frisking the downed men for weapons. Two guns and four knives. He tossed a couple to Matt.

Matt shook his head. “These guys aren’t part of Madison’s original troops. Not even close.” He watched the men outside running through the storm. “Those don’t look like it either. All of these guys are Protect soldiers with minimal training.” He turned, his gaze hardening. “Let’s go find Zara and worry about Madison later.”

Ryker’s lungs seized. “Side door.” He turned and ran for the mudroom, Matt on his heels. They reached the storm. “You go east, and I’ll check the western trees,” Ryker ordered.

Matt nodded and took off at a run.

Ryker turned, barreling through the snow as gunfire erupted at the front of the lodge. His step hitched, but he kept going. His brothers were trained, and they’d be okay. Zara and Greg needed him now. He ducked his head against the piercing cold, reaching a line of trees and scouting the area for a trail. Fresh snow covered the ground, littered with pine needles, which made it nearly impossible to see footprints, especially in the dark.

So he paused and listened. Wind, firefight in the background, ice cracking on branches. Digging deeper, he filtered all the sounds.

A heartbeat. Wild and fierce, going too fast. To the east. Another one. . . this one somewhat elevated yet calmer than the first one.

He ducked under swaying branches and ran, following the sound, finding what might be a trail. He was nearly upon the outbuilding when he saw it. The white cinder blocks blended perfectly into the snowstorm.

He ran full bore for the door and kicked it open.

A hard body tackled him, throwing him back into the snow, just as a woman screamed long and loud.

Zara.





CHAPTER


39


Zara screamed and struggled against her bindings as Todd and Ryker rolled in the snow, furiously throwing punches. Reality slammed her in the face, and she quieted. There were more soldiers around. She had to help Ryker and not bring any of them running.

The loud roar of an engine bellowed through the storm.

More troops? She jerked against the ropes, wincing as they cut further into her aching flesh. The chair was metal, so even if she threw herself backward, it wouldn’t break, but her arms might.